“This is a decision I wrestled with for a while,” O’Neill said. “It had nothing to do with their coaching ability or performance. It simply has to do with the vision I have for how I want to structure this program. I want to move in a different direction.”

O’Neill retained all of former Tim Floyd’s staff when he was hired last summer because he felt it was too late in the year for them to get new jobs. But things did not always go smoothly during the season in terms of job duties.

For example, Johnson, a close friend of Floyd’s, handled scouting during his first four years at USC. But he relinquished the role to O’Neill during this season.

“This is best for Kevin O’Neill and for Phil Johnson,” Johnson said. “I have no doubt that Kevin and his new staff will do extremely well.”

Johnson might join Floyd, who is currently an assistant coach with the New Orleans Hornets.

Arnold also spent five years at USC and was an assistant at Pepperdine.

“I have known for some time that coach O’Neill would like to bring in his own guys to assist him,” Arnold said. “I understand and support this decision and wish Kevin, his new staff and the USC basketball team all my best.”